moon Rise

Coming of Age for Young Women

3 Spaces Remain!

“I can't even begin to describe how amazing this has been for me. I was able to really get to know myself and figure out what I wanted in my life. If I ever experience hard times I will be able to come back to the experience [of my solo]. It was truly life-changing. Now I have a clear picture of who I want my friends to be, how I want to act, what kind of relationship I want, and many more qualities I want to keep and let go of.” - Emily, Age 14

Adolescence can be a turbulent and trying time and most of our young people are launched into it with little consciousness and even less preparation.

How could it change the teenage years of a girl to have mentors, who have walked the path before her, guide her with love and wisdom into adolescence? To have her family walk beside her on that journey, honoring and celebrating her step out of childhood? To have a group of peers supporting her and sharing the journey with her? To be welcomed into young womanhood by an older generation of women who share with her the gifts and strengths and beauty of womanhood?

Coming of Age for Young Women was created to bring these vital experiences to more adolescent girls, to help them cross the bridge between childhood and youth in love and beauty. It will help them reach young womanhood with a deeper sense of themselves, their own inner and outer beauty and the gifts they bring to the world, so that they may walk through their teen years with strength and self-confidence.We will use heart-centered conversation, art, song, reflective activity and ritual to deepen girls' relationships to their inner selves, their families, their communities and to their own version of what is sacred.

This group of up to 9 middle school girls will explore what it means to step out of childhood and into young womanhood with the guidance and support of three fabulous female mentors. The group will spend a week at a moonlodge, engaging in a rite of passage experience to honor and celebrate the conscious step into young womanhood with a sweat bath ceremony, an 8-hour solo in the woods, and a ritual welcoming to womanhood. Parents and/or guardians will be involved in a formal parting and reconnection with their girls at the beginning and end of the retreat, so that each young woman may be recognized and supported by her family as she takes this important step, and so that the family may enter into the adolescent years together on a strong footing.

Participants spend a week at a moonlodge, engaging in a rite of passage experience to honor and celebrate the conscious step into young womanhood.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 | Participants and families meet at Sacred Groves for a gear check and send-off ceremony. We will set up in the moon lodge, play games, make dinner and prepare a fire together.

Days 2 - 3 | Time to get to know each other and find the best berry picking spots! These are the days where we focus on creating community with each other and with the land of Sacred Groves. We will identify plants, make delicious meals for each other, build fires, learn about each other’s ancestry, share songs, trade stories and play lots of games in the woods!

Days 4 - 6 | Now that we know a bit about who we are on this journey with, it is time to dive deep and challenge ourselves! We will use art, song, poetry, ceremony and movement to prepare us for a Wisdom Lodge, an 8-hour solo, and a Maiden Ceremony. Participants will have one-on-one time with Program Mentors to address concerns and explore hopes for this exciting and courageous part of their journey. Our days will still be filled with fun games, tide-pooling and lounging in the warm summer sun. A community of women, including elders Tere and Therese of Sacred Groves, will make these experiences special and full memories that will last a lifetime.

Days 7 | This final day is all about integrating everything we’ve learned and experienced. The trick to wonderful summer experiences is learning how to make it a part of the rest of our lives. How do we carry sisterhood, community practices, creativity, nature exploration and our unique gifts with us into busy teenage lives? We will answer these questions together and with our families.

Program Coordinator

Marisa ”Sasa” Taborga Byrne (she, her, hers) is a heart-centered humanitarian. Sasa comes from Irish/German, and Bolivian lineages and has loved many lands including California, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Argentina, Bolivia and Washington. She intimately knows the healing potential and wonder of Nature; her path as a ceremonialist, nature connection guide, and rites of passage facilitator was inspired in the Andes mountains, where she experienced soulful transformation living off the grid in an intentional community. In that place, she came to know the Pacha Mama as teacher, healer, guide and friend. Since that adventure 10 years ago, she has been committed to offering soulful inquiries in Nature through new and full moon ceremonies, coming of age programs and ceremonies, medicine walks, vision fasts, and holistic sexual education. Sasa joined Journeys as a Vision Fast guide in 2014, and in 2017, worked on the Leadership Intensive, Explorer’s Journey and Moon Rise programs. This youthful spirit loves to share in laughter, play, and heart connection, and is deeply honored and grateful for this opportunity to serve.

Thank you!

IRIS GARTHWHITE

Program Coordinator

Iris is at home in the wild where wonder, curiosity and imagination fill her senses. She has ventured to many wild places including Patagonia, Papua New Guinea and the Himalayas…

More about Iris

Iris Garthwhite

Program Coordinator

Iris grew up exploring the curving oaks, rolling hills and cityscapes of the San Francisco Bay Area. One of her favorite activities as a child was guiding her friends on bushwhacking journeys in the green spaces of her neighborhood. She is at home in the wild where wonder, curiosity and imagination fill her senses. She has ventured to some of the world's most remote wild places including Patagonia, Papua and Himalayas as backpacker, bikepacker, kayaker and writer. Iris has participated in many Animas Valley Institute programs including two vision quests. She believes the wild is a great companion to spark and nurture transformative experiences. Iris deeply enjoys guiding young people into the fascinating thresholds of soul through ceremony, wilderness exploration and imagination. She believes we find our deepest gifts, strengths, and essence during these sacred experiences. Iris has guided youth with LEAPNow, Big City Mountaineers, Americorps and Entre Todas. She is pursuing a degree at Evergreen where she will be blending Ecology and imagination.

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